We have great news! In addition to our new website, we now have a new platform for our premium Fishing Report. Since you’re a current premium member, there is one step necessary for you to continue to receive ongoing Fishing Reports. Click the sign-up button below, re-subscribe with either a monthly or annual subscription, and you’re all set. After you subscribe on this new platform, you’ll be automatically unsubscribed (no longer charged) for your subscription on our old platform. That’s it. Let us know if you have any questions and tight lines!
Rob Buhler 01/18/2022 Kern River: The bite continues to be good with beautiful weather!! The warmer, sunnier days have been getting some fish active from 10am-3pm. Fishing has been best from the park in town up to Fairview Dam where water temps get a couple degrees warmer by midday. I haven’t fished above the bridge in weeks, but it may be worth a hike with nighttime temps in the 30’s and daytime temps in the 60’s over the next week. You will definitely have a shot at some wild trout!! Flashy, pink or larger nymphs are still getting the best response. Go small (#18-22) on at least one fly if targeting wild trout. The Slim Shiny Perdigon has been red hot for stocked fish and gives you a shot at a wild trout too!! Electric Candies have been solid. The Blue Wing hatch has been day to day and only in a select pool and runs. Use a long leader and 18-22 Parachute Adams or Cripple Mayfly.
Kern River Flows: 240cfs above Fairview Dam and below the Powerhouse. 53cfs below Fairview Dam to the Powerhouse.
Kern River Water temp: 36-40 degrees
Kern River Techniques: I am almost exclusively bobber fishing or Euro nymphing now unless we see rising fish. The water is cold and getting your flies on the bottom will improve chances at hookups. Use thinner fluorocarbon tippet subsurface as the water is now crystal clear. Longer, thinner 5x-6x nylon leaders on your dry fly rig is a must now while fishing to selective risers.
Kern River Nymphs: Slim Shiny Perdigon #14-18, Bucky Stones #12-14, BWO #18-22, Holo Midges #16-20, Electric Candy Yellow and Pink #8, Pink Frenchies #14-18, Kauffie Cup Stones #12, Tungsten Yellow Sally and Black Stones #8-14, Birds Nest #12, Lightning Caddis #14, Fire Perdigon #14, Zebra Midges #16-20, Soft Hackle and Flashback PT’s #14-18, Drag Queen #14-16, Peacock, Purple and Orange Frenchies #14-18, Olive/Orange Perdigon #14, Tungsten Jig Fire Perdigon #14, Tungsten Jig TNT Baetis #14, Red Soft Hackle PT, Red Blue Hares Ear, FlashbackHare’s Ear #14
Kern River Streamers:#8-12 Black or Olive Tungsten Wooly Buggers, Micro Finesse and Finesse Game Changers in White, Tan and Olive/Tan
Kern River Guide Tip: If you find rising fish, proceed with caution!! Cast above rising fish and drift fly to them. If fish activity slows, try only 6-10 casts and drifts, then wait patiently for the next wave of rising fish and target appropriately. Do not flog the water repeatedly as this will put the fish down.
Guide Report: Ryan Buhler This week with the warm weather the fish got active up and down the 20-mile section. It has been a little chilly above the Johnsondale bridge and reports have the fish being stingy at the moment. Still worth a trip up that way just for the scenic beauty. At this time of year most fish are being caught nymphing with attractor patterns and some stoneflies. Slim Shiny in 14 and Bucky stones in 14 have been the best for me and my clients. Keep an eye on the park in town with the resent stockings. Good place to hook a few if you don’t mind some company while you fish. If that isn’t appealing head upriver and find some solitude. Great time to be on the river with low crowds and sunny days. Get off the couch and get outside. Ryan
Lower Kern
Lower Kern: Trout fishing has been a good option here with water temps being several degrees warmer than the Upper. Flows are perfect at 150 cfs. Use the same nymphing techniques and flies as listed on the Upper report, but it’s ok to use 3x-4x fluorocarbon tippet when nymphing with darker water. There’s also a better chance at that midday hatch here!! Always a shot at a monster pikeminnow too, especially when fishing streamers!!
Lake Isabella: Bass action finally slowed with recent storms and water temp drops. Use the same minnow patterns as mentioned for the Lower. Hatchery trout are now spread throughout the lake. It’s best to use streamers or attractors under a bobber for the stockers.
Lake Isabella Guide Tip:Long sinking tip or full sinking lines will help get your fly down to where the fish are in this cold-water period.
Lower Owens River: Fishing has been fantastic over the last few days with multiple 30-40 fish days for clients. Smaller mayfly nymphs, Walts Worm (on fire yesterday!) and midges size #18-20 continue to get the best response even after a warm spell. Nymphing has been steady in the mornings if you are getting good presentations. The Blue Wing hatch continues to be sporadic, but clients are still getting a shot at some dry action each day and usually netting a couple. The heavy, first generation hatch of size #16 BWO’s should pop any day now and the midday bite will go off!!!
Lower Owens Flows: 101cfs
Lower Owens Water Temp:40-42 degrees
Lower Owens Techniques:Two fly bobber nymphing, Euro nymphing and streamers are producing best outside of hatch periods. Bobbers are better in slow, deep runs and Euro is productive in drop-offs and riffles. Slim Shiny slowed a bit with natural colors working better this last week. #18-20 blue wing nymphs, Holo Midges, jujubaetis and #18 Olive Perdigons working well. Daily hatches of Blue Wings from 12:30-2pm, make for a fun shot at some topwater action!! Fish a streamer for your best shot at a trophy.
Lower Owens Nymphs: Red, Wine and Black Holo Midges #16-20, Walt’sWorm #18, BWO #18-20, Slim Shiny Perdigons Orange and Pink #18, Frenchies #14-18, Olive/Orange Perdigon #14, Blue Blood Midges #16-20, Peacock, Pink and Orange Frenchies #14-18, Wooly Bugger Olive #12, Flashback Hare’s Ear’s and P.T.’s #14-18
Lower Owens Dries: BWO Cripple #16-20, Parachute Adams #16-20, Blue Wing Olive #14-18, BWO Spinner #18-20, E/C Caddis #16-18, Griffiths Gnat #16-20, Cluster Midge #16-18Lower O Guide Tip: If you find rising fish, proceed with caution!! Cast above rising fish and drift fly to them. If fish activity slows, try only 6-10 casts and drifts, then wait patiently for the next wave of rising fish and target appropriately. Do not flog the water repeatedly as this will put the fish down.
Crowley Lake: May 2022
January 2022 School Dates
Beginner Clinic #1 January 22, 2022 / Kernville
Fly Tying Class January 22, 2022 / Kernville
Beginner #2 January 23, 2022 / Kernville
Fly Fish the Surf January 22, 2022 / Pismo Beach
Casting Clinic January 23, 2022 / San Luis Obispo
Intermediate Clinic January 29, 2022 / Kernville
Fly Fish the Surf January 29, 2022 / Newport Beach– Sold Out
Guy Jeans talks to fellow Kern River Fly Shop guides Rob and Ryan Buhler about the current conditions on the Upper Kern River near Kernville California and the Lower Owens River in Bishop, California. Topics include water temperatures, flies used, techniques and locations. Also discussed are boots and waders, rods, reels and sun protection. As always, at the end of the podcast roundtable, they talk about different music they’ve been listening to.
We want to thank all of you for the continued support of our fishing report. With over 12,000 members now, you help us keep giving you the most accurate and best fly-fishing reports in the west. Thank you!
Please make sure to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify
Wild Kern River Rainbow caught during the “Wild Trout Clinic”
Rob Buhler 12/07/2021 Kern River: Wild trout are still being caught daily and the DFW has stocked some areas on the 20 mile stretch. Warm temps have kept the native Kern River Rainbows active if you can’t find that stocker pod. Fishing for the native trout has been best in the afternoons all the way until dark with daily hatches of Midges, Blue Wing Olives and Spotted Sedge Caddis.
Kern River Flows: 124cfs above Fairview Dam and below the Powerhouse. 45cfs below Fairview Dam to the Powerhouse.
Kern River Water temp: 38-42 degrees
Kern River Techniques: Dry/Dropper is now only being used in shallow runs of 2-4ft. Two fly bobber nymphing and Euro Nymphing have been getting fish in deeper and more turbulent water. Pat’s Rubber Legs was best of the week again. #14-18 Red/Blue Hare’s Ear’s and Red Soft Hackle P T.’s got some too. BWO hatches at 12:30-2pm and a Caddis hatch from 2-4pm give a fun shot at some topwater action with a #16-20 Parachute Adams, Blue Wing Olive and #16 Elk Hair Caddis!
Wild Kern River Rainbow
Kern River Nymphs: Red Soft Hackle PT, Red Blue Hares Ear,FlashbackHare’s Ear #14, SlIm Shiny Perdigon #14, Pat’s Rubber Legs #8, Peacock Frenchies #14-18, Kauffie Cup Stones #12, Tungsten Yellow Sally and Black Stones #8-14, Birds Nest #12, Lightning Caddis #14, Fire Perdigon #14, Zebra Midges #16-20, Soft Hackle and Flashback PT’s #14-18, Drag Queen #14-16, Pink, Purple and Orange Frenchies #14-18, Olive/Orange Perdigon #14, Tungsten Jig Fire Perdigon #14, Tungsten Jig TNT Baetis #14, Kern River Dries:Red Fuzzy Wuzzy #6, Cicadacator, Orange Half Cocked #8, Rubber Legged Stimulators #6-16 #14-22 Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis #14-18, BWO #16-24, #16-18 Griffiths Gnat or Cluster Midge
Kern River Streamers:#8-12 Black or Olive Tungsten Wooly Buggers, Micro Finesse and Finesse Game Changers in White, Tan and Olive/Tan
Kern River Guide Tip: Midges are a good bet now with micro mayfly and Midge hatches daily. Go with pink or flashy flies if you find the stockers.
Kern River rainbow caught this week!
Lower Kern
Lower Kern:Fishing has slowed with lower water temps for smallmouth and spotted bass plus an occasional black crappie. We are using sink tip and floating lines to target the bass with Clouser Minnows, Gamechangers and Wooly Buggers all in white, chartreuse and olive.
Lake Isabella: Bass still hitting the surface just about every morning from Rocky Point to the Dam!! Start with poppers and switch to the same minnow patterns as mentioned for the Lower Kern if they won’t eat your fly on top. Fish the drowned trees midday for a shot at a fall trophy!!
Lake Isabella Guide Tip:Hang a small leech, bugger or #8 Hare’s Ear Nymph 12″-18″ below your poppers to up your hookup odds on Isabella and the Lower Kern.
Lower Owens
Lower Owens River:Had to work hard for bites on the last outing with Streamers getting attention from the aggressive fish. The bite should turn on after a slow day or two. Nymphing has been steady if you are getting good presentations and it’s BWO time from 12-2pm daily for fun topwater action.
Lower Owens Flows:82 cfs
Lower Owens Water Temp: 42-44 degrees
Lower Owens Techniques:Two fly bobber nymphing, Euro nymphing and streamers are producing best outside of hatch periods. Bobbers are better in slow, deep runs and Euro is productive in drop-offs and riffles. Daily hatches of Blue Wings are in full swing from 12-2pm, making for a fun shot at some topwater action!! Fish a streamer for your best shot at a trophy.
Lower Owens Nymphs:Slim Shiny Perdigons Orange and Pink #14-18, Frenchies #14-18, Olive/Orange Perdigon #14, Blue Blood Midges #16-20, Peacock, Pink and Orange Frenchies #14-18, Red Holo Midge #16-20, Wooly Bugger Olive #12, Flashback Hare’s Ear’s and P.T.’s #14-18
Lower Owens Dries:Parachute Adams #16-20, Blue Wing Olive #14-18, BWO Spinner #18-20, E/C Caddis #16-18, Griffiths Gnat #16-20, Cluster Midge #16-18 Lower O Guide Tip: Set on every pause, twitch or unusual movement in your bobber!!! Yes, it’s a fish!!!
Crowley Lake: May 2022
The Kern River Fly Shop Guide Team and Pro Staff – Top Row- left to right- Rob Buhler, Dan Ocampo, Jolee Vaughn, Paul Fuller, Dan Housh – Bottom Row – Ryan Buhler, Chiaki Harami, Dane Varner, Sergio Martinez, Guy Jeans
Guy Jeans School of Fly Fishing
Clinics – Check out the link below for all the classes we off the next few months!
Despite false information from other fishing reports on the web, the Kern river is open to fishing and has been for quite sometime. Even after the Windy Fire, the fishing has been excellent on dry flies and nymphs with various techniques. For a full up to date and accurate fishing report consider becoming a “Premium Member” for $1.99 . Premium membership gives fly information, techniques, locations, flows, fly tying and current fishing videos all around the Southern Sierra. Check out the short video of an angler fly fishing the wild trout section of the upper Kern and give a listen to the Kern River Fly Shop Podcast “Guide Roundtable”. We want to thank all of you for the overwhelming support of this fishing report and the Kern River Fly Shop Podcast. It helps us give you the best fishing report on the internet. Please also check out and subscribe to our Youtube Channel . Thank you for supporting small American businesses! We appreciate it!
Guide trips for smallmouth include your own pontoon to use!
The Lower Kern Smallmouth bite is good on various streamers. We are currently booking trips on the Lower Kern for smallmouth bass. Book a trip by clicking on the link below!
